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K枚penick Palace

K枚penick Palace

View of Köpenick Palace.

漏 visitBerlin, Foto: Dagmar Schwelle

Köpenick Palace is beautifully surrounded by water in the district of the same name in south-east Berlin. It is the most important surviving palace from the reign of the Hohenzollern dynasty. The impressive palace is well worth the journey to the outskirts of Berlin.

Surrounded by water, Köpenick Palace is part of Köpenick's old town and dates back to the time of the Great Elector (1620-1688). The palace in the Dutch Baroque style is structurally unchanged. It bears witness to the great influence of the Netherlands at the end of the 17th century. The interior of Köpenick Palace is particularly impressive: The rooms inside are opulently decorated. The palace also houses the Hohenzollern treasure.

K枚penicker Insel: A building site with history

Köpenick Palace was built between 1677 and 1690 for the heir to the throne of the Great Elector, Frederick III. He was to move into the palace after his marriage to Elisabeth Henriette von Hessen-Kassel. The estate was built on a waterfront site directly on the River Dahme. The property had already been built on before Köpenick Palace. The Ascanians had first built a castle here around 1240. The hunting lodge of Elector Joachim II then stood on the same site. The hunting lodge had to make way for the new palace.

Architecture of K枚penick Palace

The master builder of Köpenick Palace was Rutger van Langervelt from the Netherlands. He erected a three-storey building. The façade decoration consists of a large round arch and two columns and is limited to the center of the building. The windows are only architecturally emphasized in this area of the façade. Adonis and Venus can be seen in the gable relief in the courtyard. Three sandstone figures on the pediment represent Mercury, Venus and Mars. On the water side, a pediment relief shows Diana and Endymion, with Apollo, Hercules and Diana standing above them. Langervelt had a French mansard roof built.

K枚penick Palace falls into oblivion

From 1682, Johann Arnold Nering was to extend the palace with three wings. The extension came to a standstill after the sudden death of his wife Elisabeth Henriette in 1683. Just five years later, the Great Elector also died and Frederick became sovereign. After his marriage to his second wife Sophie Charlotte, Köpenick Palace fell into oblivion. Instead, the summer residence in what is now Charlottenburg was preferred. Köpenick Palace was only used as a hunting lodge. The work begun by Nering was therefore stopped in 1695. The foundation that was once begun is now a large garden terrace.

Nering's palace church

Architect Nering was nevertheless able to realize his ideas on the palace grounds: He designed the portal building on the palace bridge and a small, two-storey gallery on the north side of the palace. Nering's most important building in Köpenick is the palace church. It was built opposite the palace between 1682 and 1685. The chapel in the church is the only one of Nering's buildings that has been faithfully preserved.

A prison in the castle

From 1741, the palace served as a widow's residence, and in 1804 it was sold to Friedrich Graf von Schmettau. When he fell in battle against Napoleon, Köpenick Palace changed hands to the Crown. Prussia's unwillingness to deal with demagogues, critics of democracy, led to the establishment of a prison in the palace's cellar in the 19th century.

Magnificent hall of arms and real treasures

During the Second World War, the palace was spared from bombing and the baroque interior fittings were saved along with it. The 29 ceilings designed by stucco artists from Ticino and Graubünden are still impressive today. Also worth seeing are the ceiling paintings, most of which have Diana, the goddess of hunting, as their central motif.

The coat of arms hall is located on the upper floor of the palace. The artist Caroveri created a lavishly decorated room that emphasizes the territorial greatness of the electorate. The shields of the lands and free cities belonging to the electorate at the time hang in the room. There is also an opulent dinner service from the reign of the crown prince in the hall of arms. It was made for Breslau Palace by the Royal Porcelain Manufactory in 1767. Other valuable table services in the Rococo style are also on display.

K枚penick Palace Museum of Decorative Arts

Köpenick Palace is home to the Museum of Decorative Arts. The museum in the palace has one of the most important collections of European arts and crafts in the world. Visitors can immerse themselves in the splendor of bygone times on a tour. Furniture, tapestries and works of art from the Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo periods can be viewed. Also worth seeing is the large silver buffet in the Knights' Hall and four complete room panels, some of which can be walked through. These come from other palaces.

K枚penick Palace Park

The palace park was laid out as a baroque garden in 1690. Today it has been redesigned in the style of the 1960s and is home to many sculptures. A café by the water invites you to take a break.

Information

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City map

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 Address
Alt-K枚penick 1
12557 Berlin
Phone
+49 (0)30 266 424 242
Internet
Opening Hours
October-March: Thursday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
April-September: Wednesday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Accessibility
The palace is wheelchair accessible.
Admission Fee
€8, reduced fee €4
Tickets
Guided Tours
Tours available by appointment.

Public transportation

  • Bus

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  • Tram

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Last edited: 18 June 2025